BOUND BY BLOOD

The marble floor was too clean to have blood on it. Nora Hart knew that, which is why her hands were shaking so bad the handle of the cleaning cart rattled. 1:47am. Blackwood Holdings was dead quiet. She checked her phone with her sleeve because her gloves were wet. 59 days,18 hours, 12 minutes until Ethan's surgery. Fifty-nine days, that's nothing and that's everything at the same time. The reminder squeezed her chest until it hurt. The hospital called again yesterday. Same voice, same script..."Ms. Hart, without the deposit, we cancel the operation.” No deposit, no heart. No heart, no Ethan. I can't... I can't lose him...Not like this God, please not like this. That’s why she was here. Mopping floors for a man who paid her half what she was worth. The executive floor was supposed to be off limits after midnight. Everyone knew that. NO CLEANING STAFF PAST 12AM.....But tonight the manager texted her.... “Overtime pay.” Just do it and go...One floor in and out, Do not cross boundaries. The elevator doors opened and the air changed. Colder...Too quiet. Why is it so quiet? No assistants. No security. Just the hum of the AC and her own breathing. Her shoes squeaked too loud.... Shut up. Shut up. She started with the conference room. Spray, Wipe, Spray, Wipe. Nora's mind went down to the hospital while cleaning....Beeping machines, Ethan looks so small._ 59 days...I can do this, I have to do this. The CEO’s office was last. Damien Blackwood’s name on gold. The door was cracked open...no bad sign. Walk away. Walk away now ...... A voice drifted out.....Low, shaking like one pleading for mercy. “Please... I kept my promise.” Another voice answered calm. “I know.” Oh God. Oh God what is that. Her feet moved anyway. One step. Two steps...Stupid...So stupid, Nora oh God. She peered through the gap. And in the middle of the rug, on his knees, was Mr. Keller one of the employees. Standing over him was Damien Blackwood. He was taking off his gloves. Slow. One finger at a time. Then she saw it. His fingernails stretched. Became claws. Black. Curved. No. No no no. That’s not real. That’s not—_ Her breath caught. Damien’s head tilted. Like he heard her. Slowly, he turned. His eyes were glowing. Deep, molten crimson. I’m dead. I’m so dead. “No...” The word fell out. Damien smiled. It wasn’t a nice smile. And then fangs, Long, White. Mr. Keller started screaming. Damien moved. He bit down into the side of Keller’s neck...Wet. That sound was wet. Nora’s hand flew to her mouth. She gasped. Everything stopped. Damien pulled back....Blood on his lips, he licked it off. Then his glowing eyes snapped to the door. To her. Run. Run. RUN. But her legs wouldn’t move. Their eyes met..... Everything stopped at the moment. And Nora knew two things. One: She was going to die. Two: If I die, who pays for Ethan surgery? Damien didn’t move. He just stared. For 3 seconds. For 10. Then he turned back to Mr. Keller’s body on the rug like she wasn’t there. “Clean it,” he said. Voice calm. Like he was talking about spilled coffee. Nora’s mouth opened. No sound came out. “Now, Ms. Hart.” He knows my name. Her legs finally moved. Shaking. She grabbed paper towels from the cart. Her hands wouldn’t stop. Blood. So much blood. She scrubbed the marble while trying not to look at Keller’s face. She didn’t know how long it took. When she finished, the room smelled like bleach and copper. Damien was sitting behind his desk. Suit jacket back on. Like nothing happened. He gestured to the chair across from him. Nora sat. Because what else could she do? The office was silent except for the hum of the AC and Nora’s heart beating too fast. Damien leaned back. His crimson eyes dragged over her, slow. Like he was deciding what to do with her. “Ms. Hart,” he said softly. Nora flinched. He smiled. Not nice. “Pack a bag. You leave with me in one hour.” Outside the window, the city was dark. And Nora Hart had no idea if she was walking into a job... Or a grave. END OF CHAPTER 1